Equine health encompasses the study and management of diseases, disorders, and overall well-being of horses. It involves understanding various physiological systems, preventive care, and treatment strategies to maintain optimal health in equine populations. Common areas of focus include nutrition, infectious diseases, orthopedic conditions, and reproductive health. Research in equine health aims to advance knowledge on diagnostic methods, therapeutic interventions, and management practices that improve horse welfare and performance. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine health, offering insights into current findings and advancements in the field.
Troedsson MH, Liu IK, Crabo BG.After the deposition of semen in the mare's uterus, spermatozoa must be transported to the site of fertilization, be maintained in the female tract until ovulation occurs, and be prepared to fertilize the released ovum. Sperm motility, myometrial contractions, and a spontaneous post-mating uterine inflammation are important factors for the transport and survival of spermatozoa in the mare's reproductive tract. Fertilizable sperm are present in the oviduct within 4 h after insemination. At this time, the uterus is the site of a hostile inflammatory environment. Our data suggest that spermatozoa...
Rigby S, Love C, Carpenter K, Varner D, Blanchard T.Eleven light-breed pregnant mares (335 to 347 d gestaton) were used to evaluate the use of prostaglandin E2 as a cervical ripening agent prior to induction of parturition during the months of April and May. Six hours prior to induction, each mare's cervix was examined per vagina for softness and dilation. Each mare was then assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: Group PGE mares (n = 7) received 2.0 to 2.5 mg prostaglandin E2 deposited intracervically; Group SAL mares (n = 4) received 0.5 mL of sterile NaCl deposited intracervically. Six hours later, the mares were readied for parturition by wrap...
Takagi M, Nishimura K, Oguri N, Ohnuma K, Ito K, Takahashi J, Yasuda Y, Miyazawa K, Sato K.The viability of embryos before flushing from donor mares (n = 5) and after transfer to recipient mares (n = 7) was monitored in mare serum by detecting early pregnancy factor (EPF) using the rosette inhibition test (RIT). The EPF activity was measured in donor mares before and after natural mating at natural estrus; after ovulation on Days 2, 5 and 8; and after embryo flushing (Day 8) on Days 8, 9, 10 and 13 after ovulation. The collected embryos were transferred immediately after flushing. The EPF activity in recipient mares were measured on the day of transfer and after embryo transfer on D...
Moczygemba C, Guidry J, Wittung-Stafshede P.Native myoglobin (Mb) consists of two populations which differ in the orientation of the heme by 180 degrees rotation (as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance) but have identical absorption spectra and equilibrium-thermodynamic stability. Here, we report that these two fractions of native oxidized Mb (from horse) both unfold and refold (chemical denaturant, pH 7, 20 degrees C) in two parallel kinetic reactions with rate constants differing 10-fold. In accord, the oxidized heme remains coordinated to unfolded horse Mb in up to 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (pH 7, 20 degrees C).
Samper JC, Morris CA.Various factors affect the success of AI with frozen-thawed semen in horses. Stallion variability is thought to be one of the major factors, but semen processing and evaluation techniques, thawing protocols, packaging systems and timing of insemination are far from standardized among laboratories. Our objective was to survey current methods for stallion semen cryopreservation used commercially around the world. From the answers to the questions in the survey, we attempted to provide an overview of procedures that are standard as well as those that are used by only few laboratories and to revie...
Gastal MO, Gastal EL, Torres CA, Ginther OJ.The effects of oxytocin, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and clenbuterol on uterine contractility and tone during anestrus and diestrus, and during mobility and postfixation of the embryonic vesicle were studied in 51 pony mares. Contractility was assessed by scoring real-time ultrasound images, and tone was assessed by transrectal digital compression. Scoring was done by an operator who had no knowledge of treatment assignments. In anovulatory mares primed with progesterone for 16 d, oxytocin did not significantly alter contractility but did stimulate an increase in tone, whereas clenbut...
Merkies K, Buhr MM.Spermatozoal function is affected by the ability to regulate intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i), and may be influenced by epididymal maturation as well as environmental components. Regulation of [Ca2+]i in ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa was monitored over time in various media. Spermatozoa from each of 5 pony stallions (3 ejaculate samples and 1 caput and cauda sample) were labeled with the fluorescent calcium indicator probe Indo-1 in a calcium-free modified Tyrode's buffer. Fluorescent emissions were monitored by a dual wavelength spectrofluorometer over 5 h. Calc...
Troedsson MH, Liu IK, Crabo BG.Following the deposition of semen in the mares uterus, spermatozoa must be transported to the site of fertilization, be maintained in the female tract until ovulation occurs, and be prepared to fertilize the released ovum. Sperm motility, myometrial contractions, and a spontaneous post-mating uterine inflammation are important factors for the transport and survival of spermatozoa in the mares reproductive tract. Fertilizable sperm are present in the oviduct within 4 hours after insemination. At this time, the uterus is the site of a hostile inflammatory environment. Our data suggest that sperm...
Gahne S, Gånheim A, Malmgren L.Different insemination doses have been used for artificial insemination(AI) in horses. Since the insemination dose can affect the pregnancy rate, it is important to ensure that an adequate dose be used regardless of the type of inseminationprotocol used. The aim of this study was to find out if it is possible to decrease the insemination dose from 500 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa to 300 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa and still maintain an acceptable pregnancy rate when using extended fresh semen. Thirteen stallions of known fertility and a well-defined group of 64 mares w...
Varner DD, Scanlan CM, Thompson JA, Brumbaugh GW, Blanchard TL, Carlton CM, Johnson L.Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different antibiotics in a milk-glucose semen extender on motility of equine sperm and elimination of bacteria following storage of extended semen in vitro. In Experiment 1, 7 antibiotics were compared: amikacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, potassium penicillin, sodium penicillin, ticarcillin, and polymixin B. In Experiment 2, 3 antibiotic treatments were compared: potassium penicillin G, amikacin, or a combination of potassium penicillin G and amikacin. In Experiment 3, 3 antibiotic treatments were compared: potassium penicillin G-amik...
Leipold SD, Graham JK, Squires EL, McCue PM, Brinsko SP, Vanderwall DK.Information on the number of motile spermatozoa needed to maximize pregnancy rates for frozen-thawed stallion semen is limited. Furthermore, concentration of spermatozoa per 0.5-mL straw has been shown to affect post-thaw motility (7). The objectives of this study were 1) to compare the effect of increasing the concentration of spermatozoa in 0.5-mL straws from 400 to 1,600 x 10(6) spermatozoa/mL on pregnancy rate of mares, and 2) to determine whether increasing the insemination dose from approximately 320 to 800 million progressively motile spermatozoa after thawing would increase pregnancy r...
Squires EL, Brubaker JK, McCue PM, Pickett BW.In this study, we tested the hypothesis that insemination of mares with twice the recommended dose of cooled semen (2 x 10(9) spermatozoa) would result in higher pregnancy rates than insemination with a single dose (1 x 10(9) spermatozoa) or with 1 x 10(9) spermatozoa on each of 2 consecutive days. A total of 83 cycles from 61 mares was used. Mares were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups when a 40-mm follicle was detected by palpation and ultrasonography. Mares in Group 1 were inseminated with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa that had been cooled in a passive cooling unit t...
Liberda J, Tichá M, Zralý Z, Svecová D, Vezník Z.The interaction of seminal plasma proteins, sperms and detergent-released sperm proteins of three species with different types of acidic polysaccharides was studied. Heparin-binding activity of boar, bull and stallion seminal plasma proteins, sperms and sperm proteins was compared with their ability to interact with polysaccharides differing in the presence of the sulfate groups or in their saccharide moiety (chondroitin sulfate, dextran sulfate, fucoidan, hyaluronic acid). Bull seminal plasma proteins were characterized by higher affinity to heparin, fucoidan and dextran sulfate, while signif...
Hinrichs K.In vitro embryo production is not yet successful in the horse, largely due to low rates of fertilization in vitro. However, methods to produce embryos from isolated oocytes have been developed. Oocytes may be recovered from living mares by aspiration of the dominant preovulatory follicle by trans-abdominal puncture, and from both preovulatory and immature follicles by trans-vaginal ultrasound-guided puncture. Transfer of in vivo-matured oocytes to the oviducts of bred recipient mares has resulted in good pregnancy rates (75-85%). Little work has been done on transfer of horse oocytes matured i...
Rosas CA, Alberio RH, Barañao JL, Agüero A, Chaves MG.The efficiency of superovulating mares with an enriched fraction of equine follicle-stimulating hormone (feFSH) and an equine pituitary extract (EPE) with similar FSH content but differing in the LH amount was compared. Mares were randomly assigned to an feFSH (n = 5) or EPE (n = 5) treatment. The experimental period was of 2 successive estrous cycles, with the first cycle as the control. At Days 6 and 7 of the estrous cycle, the mares received 250 micrograms i.m. cloprostenol. The treatments consisted of daily injections of 25 mg feFSH or EPE beginning on Day 6 post ovulation. Mares were inse...
Bollwein H, Maierl J, Mayer R, Stolla R.Color Doppler ultrasound was used transrectally in 6 mares to locate both the left and right Aa. uterinae and to obtain flow velocity waveforms at defined times (Days 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20) during 4 estrous cycles. Blood flow reflected by the resistance index (RI) was determined for both arteries on 120 occasions. As there was no significant difference and a high correlation in the RI values between the left and right arteries (paired Student's t-test, correlation coefficient r > 0.94; P < 0.05), the average RI value was used for subsequent analyses. There were correlations between RI valu...
Nambo Y, Kaneko H, Nagata S, Oikawa M, Yoshihara T, Nagamine N, Watanabe G, Taya K.Physiological roles of inhibin in mares were investigated by means of passive immunization using an antiserum to inhibin that had been raised in a castrated goat. Eight mares were given an intravenous injection of either 100 mL (n = 4) or 200 mL (n = 4) of inhibin antiserum 4 d after a single intramuscular injection of PGF2 alpha on Day 8 after ovulation, 4 control mares were treated with 100 mL castrated goat serum in the same manner. Jugular vein blood samples were collected after treatment with the serum until 192 h post treatment. Follicular growth and ovulations were monitored by ultrasou...
Erice I, Gil L, Josa A, Echegaray A, Martinez F, Espinosa E.Mares (n = 39) were classified according to age as young (less than 1.5 yr, n = 17) or old (more than 1.5 yr, n = 22) and sacrificed. Ovaries were measured and weighed, and the number of follicles and CL were counted. Follicle size and distribution were recorded (external: > 20 mm, 5 mm, < 5 mm). External follicles were aspirated while internal follicles were sliced. The number and Type of oocytes recovered using each method were recorded. Oocyte recovery rates (oocytes/ovary) resulted in a mean of 0.92 oocytes by aspiration and 1.36 oocytes by additional slicing. The mean numbers of av...
Bennett-Wimbush K, Loch WE, Plata-Madrid H, Evans T.Nineteen anestrous pony mares were used in a project designed to determine the effects of altered prolactin concentrations on follicular dynamics and endocrine profiles during spring transition. The dopamine antagonist, perphenazine, was administered daily to mares (0.375 mg/kg body weight) in Group A (n = 6), while Group B mares (n = 7) received 0.08 mg/kg metabolic weight (kg75) dopamine agonist, 2-bromo-ergocriptine, intramuscularly twice daily. Mares in Group C (n = 6) received 0.08 mg/kg75, i.m., saline twice daily. Treatment began January 20, 1994, and continued until ovulation occurred....
Peltier MR, Robinson G, Sharp DC.The effects of melatonin implant treatment over a four week period on LH, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) secretion during the breeding season were studied in ovary-intact and ovariectomized pony mares. Mares with melatonin implants had significantly higher daytime melatonin concentrations than mares with sharm implants (P = 0.0065). In ovariectomized mares, LH secretion did not differ between mares with melatonin and sham implants. In ovary-intact mares, melatonin implants altered the pattern of LH secretion (P = 0.0023) in such a way that an increase in LH secretion was observed during ...
Peltier MR, Robinson G, Sharp DC.The effects of melatonin implant treatment over a 4 wk period at the summer solstice on the transition into and out of the following anovulatory season were evaluated in ovary-intact and ovariectomized mares. Melatonin implants tended to delay the timing of the final ovulation of the breeding season (P = 0.0797) in the ovary-intact mares. Although the decline in LH secretion associated with the end of the breeding season was parallel between treatments and ovarian statuses, the rate of LH secretion, as expressed by its mathematical accumulation, was lower in ovariectomized, melatonin-treated m...
Haffner JC, Fecteau KA, Held JP, Eiler H.Under laboratory conditions and in clinical experiments, bacterial collagenase has proven to be effective in hydrolyzing placenta and detaching cotyledon from caruncle in the bovine species. Laboratory studies in which placental samples were incubated with collagenase have also demonstrated that collagenase is 3.7 times more effective in hydrolyzing equine placenta than bovine placenta. This led to the hypothesis that collagenase may be a potential treatment for mares with retained placenta. However, that collagenase may hydrolyze the uterine wall and perforate the uterus was a concern. It was...
Galuppo LD, Stover SM, Willits NH.To compare the biomechanical properties, in full limb preparations, of intact second phalanx and a simulated comminuted second phalangeal fracture stabilized with either two bone plates or a custom Y-plate. Methods: In vitro biomechanical assessment of intact limbs and of paired limbs with a simulated second phalangeal fracture stabilized by one of two fixation methods. Animal Population-Thirteen pairs of equine cadaveric forelimbs. Methods: A comminuted second phalangeal fracture was created in six paired cadaveric limbs. For each limb pair, the fracture was stabilized with two plates in one ...
Yarbrough TB, Lee MR, Hornof WJ, Koblik PD, Brodack J, Troup C, O'Brien TR, Pool R.To determine the effects of Samarium-153 bound to hydroxyapatite microspheres (153SmM) when injected into the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses. Methods: - Horses were injected with 153SmM in metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints with the diagonal contralateral joints used as untreated controls. Methods: Twelve adult horses without pre-existing disease involving the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints. Methods: Horses were divided into three groups: high-dose Samarium-153 (12.5 to 17.0 millicurie [mCi]), intermediate dose (6.5 to 12.0 mCi), and low dose...
Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Nogueira GP, Bergfelt DR, Ginther OJ.The effect of altered LH concentrations on the deviation in growth rates between the 2 largest follicles was studied in pony mares. The progestational phase was shortened by administration of PGF2alpha on Day 10 (Day 0=ovulation; n=9) or lengthened by daily administration of 100 mg of progesterone on Days 10 to 30 (n=11; controls, n=10). All follicles > or = 5 mm were ablated on Day 10 in all groups to initiate a new follicular wave. The interovulatory interval was not altered by the PGF2alpha treatment despite a 4-day earlier decrease in progesterone concentrations. Time required for growt...
Shiue Y-L , Millon LV, Skow LC, Honeycutt D, Murray JD, Bowling AT.The hypothesis that the conservation of sex-chromosome-linked genes among placental mammals could be extended to the horse genome was tested using the UCDavis horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid (SCH) panel. By exploiting the fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) technique to localize an anchor locus, X-inactivation-specific transcript (XIST) on the horse X chromosome, together with the fragmentation and translocation of the X- and Y-chromosome fragments in a somatic cell hybrid panel, we regionally assigned 13 type I and 13 type II (microsatellite) markers to the horse X- and Y-chromosomes. T...
Neto FJ, Luna SP, Massone F, Thomassian A, Vargas JL, Junior JR, D'Utra Vaz BB, Crocci AJ.To evaluate the effect of changing the mode of ventilation from spontaneous to controlled on the arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 difference [P(a-ET)CO2] and physiological dead space (VD(phys)/VT) in laterally and dorsally recumbent halothane-anesthetized horses. STUDY DESIGN; Prospective, experimental, nonrandomized trial. Methods: Seven mixed breed adult horses (1 male and 6 female) weighing 320 +/- 11 kg. Methods: Horses were anesthetized in 2 positions-right lateral and dorsal recumbency-with a minimum interval of 1 month. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen for 180 minutes. Sponta...
Schumacher J, Dutton DM, Murphy DJ, Hague BA, Taylor TS.To report experience with paranasal sinus surgery through a frontonasal flap in sedated, standing horses. Methods: Treatment of 10 horses with naturally occurring paranasal sinus disease through a frontonasal bone flap created with the horses standing. Methods: Ten adult horses. Methods: After restraint and sedation, local anesthetic was injected subcutaneously along the proposed incision line over the conchofrontal sinus and was instilled into the sinuses through a small hole created in the frontal bone. A 3-sided, rectangular, cutaneous incision that extended through the periosteum was creat...
Wilkins PA, Marsh PS, Acland H, Del Piero F.Listeria monocytogenes septicemia was diagnosed in a 6-day-old Thoroughbred foal. Primary clinical signs included fever, depression, diarrhea, and respiratory distress. Hematologic abnormalities included leukopenia, neutropenia, degenerative left shift, and hyperfibrinogenemia. Clinical chemistry and blood gas abnormalities included metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, hypocapnia, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremia. Despite aggressive therapeutic intervention and intensive care, the foal died within 12 hours of admission. A postmortem examination was performed, and the primary gross lesion was bilateral...
Gialletti R, Nannarone S, Gandini M, Cerullo A, Bertoletti A, Scilimati N, Giusto G.Nephrosplenic space (NSS) ablation has been demonstrated to be an effective technique for prevention of left dorsal displacement of the large colon and multiple laparoscopic techniques, among which ablation with mesh or with a barbed suture, have been proposed. Our objective was to compare two laparoscopic techniques for closure of the NSS in twenty-eight horses diagnosed with nephrosplenic entrapment. Medical records of horses that had laparoscopic NSS ablation in two referral centers between 2017-2019 were retrieved. Duration of surgery, complications, and short- and long-term follow-up info...
Rush BR, Hoskinson JJ, Davis EG, Matson CJ, Hakala JE.To determine whether pulmonary distribution of aerosolized technetium Tc 99m pentetate is improved after inhalation of a single dose of albuterol sulfate in horses susceptible to recurrent airway obstruction (heaves). Methods: 6 horses with heaves and 4 horses with normal respiratory tract function. Methods: Images were obtained during ventilation of horses at baseline (maximal change in pleural pressure during tidal breathing [deltaPpImax] >15 cm H2O) and after aerosolized albuterol sulfate (360 microg) administration, with a 24-hour washout period between experiments. The deltaPpImax was ...
Landolt GA.Acute poisoning and envenomation often represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Although identification ultimately may benefit the affected animal, treatment frequently must commence before an etiologic diagnosis is established. Therefore, the goals for the management of acutely intoxicated horses must be focused on emergency intervention and stabilization of the patient, prevention of further exposure, and aggressive decontamination. This article reviews the treatment steps that should be considered during the management of horses experiencing poisoning or envenomation.
Zendri F, Isgren CM, Sinovich M, Richards-Rios P, Hopkins KL, Russell K, Groves N, Litt D, Fry NK, Timofte D. () may cause diphtheria in humans and can be carried by a wide range of animal species including dairy cows and, more recently, dogs and cats that have been increasingly involved in zoonotic trasmission. We isolated and characterized, by WGS, a toxigenic strain from a diseased horse in the United Kingdom showing clinical signs of respiratory diphtheria comparable to those seen in people. Our results indicate a role for horses as reservoirs for zoonotic .
Bowie J, Mason PC, Oudemans G, Montgomery RH.Cysts found in the liver of a horse which had never been out of New Zealand were used to infect two dogs which were slaughtered 35 days after infection. Large numbers of Echinococcus granulosus were recovered. These cestodes were compared with mature dog-sheep cestodes, using light and scanning electron microscopy and identified as the dog-horse strain of E.granulosus.
Nett TM, Holtan DW, Estergreen VL.Levels of oestrone, equilin and equilenin (E1), oestradiol (E2) LH, PMSG and prolactin were measured by radioimmunoassay in serum from pregnant mares. Levels of E1 were always greater than those of E2. Both E1 and E2 remained at low levels until Day 80, increased significantly (P less than 0-05) by Day 120 to reach peak levels at Day 210 or 240 and then declined until parturition. Maximum levels of oestrogens observed in this study were 828 +/- 151 pg/ml for E1 and 71 +/- 18 pg/ml for E2 at Days 210 and 240 respectively. Spikes of LH release were observed in early pregnancy in most mares. Leve...
Freitas NFQR, Otaka DY, Galvão CC, de Almeida DM, Ferreira MRA, Moreira Júnior C, Hidalgo MMMH, Conceição FR, Salvarani FM.In horses, Clostridium perfringens is associated with acute and fatal enterocolitis, which is caused by a beta toxin (CPB), and myonecrosis, which is caused by an alpha toxin (CPA). Although the most effective way to prevent these diseases is through vaccination, specific clostridial vaccines for horses against C. perfringens are not widely available. The aim of this study was to pioneer the immunization of horses with three different concentrations (100, 200 and 400 µg) of C. perfringens recombinant alpha (rCPA) and beta (rCPB) proteins, as well as to evaluate the humoral immune response ove...
Chen JW, Uboh CE, Soma LR, Li X, Guan F, You Y.To evaluate whether urine supernatant contains amplifiable DNA and to determine factors that influence genotyping of samples from racehorses after storage and transportation. Methods: 580 urine, 279 whole blood, and 40 plasma samples obtained from 261 Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from stored blood and urine samples collected from racehorses after competition. Quantified DNA was evaluated to determine whether 5 equine microsatellite loci (VHL20, HTG4, AHT4, HMS6, and HMS7) could be amplified by use of PCR techniques. Fragment size of each amplified locus wa...
Cheville NF, Prasse K, van der Maaten M, Boothe AD.A newborn foal developed generalized cutaneous mastocytosis characterized by multiple elevated nodules of mast cells in skin and basophil hyperplasia in bone marrow. Skin lesions began as small aggregates of mast cells that progressively enlarged, ulcerated, and regressed spontaneously. Eosinophil infiltration, collagen necrosis, and fibroplasia were characteristic of advanced lesions. Many new lesions developed during the first month of life but numbers progressively diminished. Large numbers of mast cells were present in biopsies of lymph node, spleen and bone marrow. Discrete aggregates of ...
Sinclair R, Mumford JA.An antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) antigens in nasal swab specimens. The test was designed as a solid phase, amplified sandwich assay in which an EHV-1 specific monoclonal antibody was used to capture virus antigen and polyclonal antisera used to detect antigen bound to the test plates. Eight monoclonal antibodies were tested for their ability to capture virus antigen and one was selected for routine use. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA was compared with that of virus isolation using swa...
Lohmann KL, Lewis SR, Wobeser B, Allen AL.Three cases of penetrating metallic foreign bodies causing peritonitis in horses are reported. These cases were presented with varying clinical complaints and duration of clinical signs. Entry of foreign bodies into the abdominal cavity through the skin and body wall is reported for the first time. Corps étrangers métalliques pénétrants comme cause de péritonite chez 3 chevaux. Trois cas de corps étrangers métalliques pénétrants ayant causé une péritonite chez des chevaux sont signalés. Ces cas ont été présentés avec des plaintes cliniques différentes et une durée variable de...
Cable CS, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.To investigate whether upper airway sounds of horses exercising with laryngeal hemiplegia and alar fold paralysis have distinct sound characteristics, compared with unaffected horses. Methods: 6 mature horses. Methods: Upper airway sounds were recorded in horses exercising on a high-speed treadmill at maximum heart rate (HR(MAX)) under 3 treatment conditions (ie, normal upper airway function [control condition], and after induction of left laryngeal hemiplegia or bilateral alar fold paralysis) in a randomized crossover design. Fundamental frequency, spectrograms using Gabor transform, and inte...
Constant C, Zderic I, Arens D, Pugliese B, Gehweiler D, Gueorguiev-Rüegg B, Zeiter S.To determine the influence of screw head diameter on equine condylar fracture fixation with 5.5 mm cortical screws. Methods: Ex vivo, biomechanical study, blinded, matched-pair design. Methods: Fifteen pairs of equine third metacarpal (MC3) bones. Methods: Lateral condylar fractures were simulated by parasagittal osteotomies and repaired pairwise by 2 × 5.5 mm cortical screws of 8 mm (standard) or 10 mm (modified) head diameter. Interfragmentary compression at maximum screw insertion torque was measured. The instrumented specimens were pairwise stratified for biomechanical testing u...
West HJ.Plasma bile acid concentrations were measured in normal horses. There was no diurnal variation in values, and age and sex had no effect. There was no significant difference between serum and plasma bile acid concentrations in clinically normal horses. Plasma bile acids were stable on storage for one month at -20 degrees C. The total plasma bile acid concentrations together with total and direct bilirubin concentrations and plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate and iditol dehydrogenase were evaluated in horses with various types of hepatobiliary disease (hepatic necrosis, l...
Desantis S, Accogli G, Crovace A, Francioso EG, Crovace AM.The use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for clinical and experimental studies is increasing, but full characterization of MSCs in veterinary species is hindered by the variability in species-specific cell surface marker expression and antibody cross reactivity. Recent studies demonstrated that the glycans in the glycocalyx of MSCs are promising candidates as cell biomarkers. In the present study, we analyzed the glycocalyx of canine MSCs (cMSCs), ovine MSCs (oMSCs), and equine MSCs (eMSCs) using a cell microarray procedure in which MSCs were spotted on microarray slides an...
Papa FO, Alvarenga MA, Lopes MD, Campos Filho EP.THE immunogenicity of mammalian sperm has been recognised since the beginning of this century. In 1909, Adler induced autoantibodies in the serum of guinea pigs by injecting them with their own spermatozoa. Nowadays, the concept of
immunologically privileged sites is well understood and any disruption which allows antigenic contact with the immune system may give rise to an immune response. For example, failure
of the blood/testes barrier following infection, trauma or surgery can lead to the production of antisperm antibodies as a result of spermatozoa coming in contact with the immune syst...
Abrahamsen EJ, Bohanon TC, Bednarski RM, Hubbell JA, Muir WW.An 8-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was anesthetized for surgical exploration and debridement of a chronic draining wound in the intermandibular space. Anesthesia was without complication other than persistently low PaO2. Severe airway obstruction was evident immediately after extubation, requiring tracheostomy. Endoscopic diagnosis was bilateral arytenoid paralysis, which gradually resolved over the next 7 days. Compression, trauma, or tension of the recurrent laryngeal nerves are the postulated causes of idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia in horses. The extremely extended position of the head a...
Baker WT, Frederick J, Giguere S, Lynch TM, Lehmkuhl HD, Slone DE.To evaluate the outcome in horses treated with a rolling technique or surgically for nephrosplenic entrapment of the large colon (NSE) and to examine the benefit of phenylephrine (PE) HCl on the efficacy of nonsurgical (rolling) management of NSE. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 211) diagnosed with NSE by rectal palpation with or without ultrasonography, or at the time of exploratory celiotomy or necropsy. Methods: Medical records (January 1, 2001-September 1, 2008) were collected from horses diagnosed with NSE at 2 referral centers. Records were used to obtain signalment, physical ...
Adams SB, Fessler JF, Thacker HL.FIBROMAS arise from connective tissue and occur in all domestic animals (Smith, Jones and Hunt 1972; Stannard and Pulley 1978). They are most frequently noted in the dermis or subcutis, but may be present wherever connective tissue occurs. In the dermis and subcutis of the horse fibromas are grossly similar to sarcoids and may be difficult to differentiate (Baker and Leyland 1975). Fibromas have been described as tumours of the tendon sheath or tendon proper in man (Flynn 1975), but have not been described in this location in the horse.
Wilson SM, Gallagher M, Rakhit S, Remsbury AL, Ko WH.Uridine triphosphate (UTP) evoked inhibition of adrenaline-evoked cAMP accumulation in cultured equine epithelial cells (EC50, 1.8 +/- 0.2 microM) and this effect was mimicked by 5-Br-UTP (EC50, 6.6 +/- 1.8 microM) and uridine diphosphate (UDP; EC50, 96 +/- 26 microM). This inhibitory action of UTP was abolished by pre-treating cells with pertussis toxin (10 ng ml-1, 24 h). UTP (EC50, 2.3 +/- 0.3 microM) and 5-Br-UTP (EC50, 29.4 +/- 9.4 microM) also increased intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) whilst UDP did not; the two effects are thus differentially sensitive to these pyrimidine nucleotid...
Ganjam VK.Changes in the daily secretory patterns of testosterone and other 17 beta-hydroxyandrogen, total oestrogens and total corticoids were investigated in 7 stallions. Pulsatile fluctuations in plasma hormone levels were found in the serial blood samples collected hourly for 24 h in all animals. The plasma profiles indicated that corticoids, oestrogens and androgens were secreted episodically at all times in stallions. A significant correlation was observed between the precursor and products of delta 4-ene and delta 5-ene pathways and in inverse correlation (r = -0.68; P less than 0.01) was observe...
Rubilar L, Cabreira A, Giacaman L.Thirteen thoroughbred foals with an adult infection and a presumed immature infection with Fasciola hepatica were treated with 12 mg triclabendazole/kg bodyweight. The absence of eggs from samples of faeces examined at intervals up to 110 days after treatment showed that all the animals were cured. In a second trial the same dose of triclabendazole cured 11 of 12 foals whereas nitroxynil at 7 mg/kg cured only six of 12 foals. No side effects were observed after treatment.
Biggi M, Dyson SJ, Murray RC.Our aims were to evaluate the pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake in horses with lameness related to the metacarpophalangeal and/or metatarsophalangeal joint and compare the results with similar information from sound horses. It was hypothesized bthat there would be a difference in radiopharmaceutical uptake between the lame and contralateral limb in unilaterally lame horses and that there would be a difference between lame and sound horses. Nuclear scintigraphic images of 43 horses with forelimb lameness and 30 horses with hindlimb lameness were evaluated. In all horses lameness was improve...
Johnson PJ, Goetz TE, Baker GJ, Foreman JH.Two mares were examined because of urinary incontinence. Abnormalities of the genitourinary tract were identified and were corrected surgically. Urinary incontinence in mares generally is associated with a poor prognosis. The importance of a thorough physical examination of the genitourinary tract in the mare is emphasized, and the simple and successful surgical correction of structural abnormalities of the tract in 2 mares is described.
Stein L, Sledge D, Smedley R, Kiupel M, Thaiwong T.A 15-y-old Miniature horse mare had a 6-mo history of an ulcerated mass on the right lower eyelid. An incisional biopsy and a subsequent excisional biopsy were submitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for microscopic evaluation. Histologically, the incisional biopsy was composed of sheets of large neoplastic vacuolated polygonal cells. A few regions contained poorly differentiated neoplastic round-to-basaloid cells that rimmed the sheets of highly vacuolated polygonal cells. Both vacuolated and basaloid cells exhibited strong perimembranous and cytoplasmic im...
Howard RD, Stashak TS.Traumatic injuries to the head region of the horse are a common presenting complaint. Because of a copious blood supply, these wounds typically exhibit a tremendous capability for healing. By following the basic principles of wound management and employing a few techniques unique for specific injuries, the healing of these wounds can result in a satisfactory outcome.
Blythe LL, Engel HN.Components of the equine nervous system are described including classical anatomy and newer sensory innervation maps that are useful for localizing lesions to and within the nervous system. The key components in a neurological examination that help differentiate primary neurologic disease from musculoskeletal disorders are explained. Gait deficits associated with neurologic dysfunction are listed as well as diagnostic aids and an overview of differential diagnoses.
